Film stars Pierce Brosnan and Tom Hiddleston, as well as rapper Skepta, were also present.

Fellow boxer Conor Benn was in attendance, fully clothed and booted, with his dad, legendary fighter Nigel, just days after appearing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, beating Chris Eubank Jr in a rematch.

But as heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma navigated the glitz, glamor and camera flashes at the GQ British Person of the Year awards in London last November, his mind was elsewhere.

The 21-year-old Itauma (13-0, 11 KO) was widely recognized for his greatness. Don’t be surprised if he wins a world title in the next 18 months. But while others his age are partying and maybe even trying to find their place in the world, Itauma, ESPN’s 2025 Teenage Player of the Year, is focused on one goal.

It’s not that he doesn’t enjoy life outside of sports, but there is one thing on his mind day and night.

“I know boxing is my number 1,” Itauma tells reporters.

“When I was at these events and stuff… Of course it’s great, it’s nice to be around up-to-date people, but I just felt an element of, ‘I need to get back to the gym.’”

THIS WILL BE A SENTIMENT will be music to the ears of trainer Ben Davison, though not necessarily promoter Frank Warren, but Itauma has seen firsthand what bad choices can do to an aspiring champion and people his age. Red carpets, long nights turning into early mornings, even conversations with James Bond himself… That will come later.

“It attracted a lot of my friends. A lot of my friends, they could have been somebody, but then they got sucked into the party life,” Itauma says.

“Even if you ask my amateur coaches, they all said I wasn’t the most talented boxer… I didn’t punch the hardest, I wasn’t the best, but I kind of had enough consistency to stick around.

“Everyone else went to parties.”

Now, as one of the hottest prospects in the sport, the invitations come hefty and quick, but Itauma proves himself quickly. He has a wise head on juvenile shoulders. The success and praise he had already received made him realize before it was too delayed what some people never do.

He remains steadfast in his approach to boxing and life, willing to forge his own path.

“I started to realize that my family became more essential… And then the ones that weren’t that many just fell away,” he explains.

“Everyone says, ‘Oh, you’ve changed’. I should, my whole life has changed. You shouldn’t stay a caterpillar.”

But bigger changes are coming. We hope that his upcoming fight with American Jermaine Franklin Jr. on March 28 in Manchester will be a real test for him, considering that Itauma has only made it through the second round twice as a professional.

Last August, he dropped Dillian Whyte in the first round before injuries and the art of boxing, namely finding opponents willing to fight him, hampered his progress. Promoter Warren, who believes he has another superstar champion on his hands, hopes his charge will be tested against Franklin before bigger fights come later this year.

“No amateur experience as a senior and [Itauma’s] he did really well,” said Warren. “He’s in Jermaine now with a real experienced campaigner, two losses under his belt against a very good Dillian Whyte and [Anthony Joshua].

“He’s come a long way with [Joshua]. Can Moses do what they couldn’t do? Jermaine likes this job, that’s why he’s here. This is an essential moment in juvenile Moses’ career, but I believe in him.”

FOR FRANKLIN THIS another opportunity he thought had passed him by. In September during the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford match, a victory over Ivan Dychko put him back in the spotlight after several uncertain years.

At one point he declared bankruptcy and had to work full-time, away from boxing, to support his family. He did not fight in 2020 and 2021 until losses to Whyte and Joshua in 2022 and 2023 respectively, when he was forced to climb the ladder again.

He admits he almost cried during his final ring walk at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Now he doesn’t take anything for granted.

“I was raised Christian, so I know a lot of us, our journeys are very different,” Franklin says.

“So my journey may not be the same journey as someone else’s. I try not to think about it too much, I don’t get jealous or frustrated because I could have taken a longer route, but I still got here.”

Franklin says that after everything he’s been through, it’s a dream come true to return as the headliner of another show in the UK.

“It could have been on the card. I’d still be just as cheerful.”

I’m cheerful to be there, but Franklin will be desperate for a win against Itauma on March 28. However, he will face Itauma, a reluctant superstar who may have no choice but to accept that he will be in the spotlight if the knockouts continue to boost.